Birthday Celebrations at Aquatic Centre

It was party time at the Gore aquatic centre last week as staff and patrons celebrated the pool’s 10th birthday.

Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks said it was amazing how time passes.

He recalled the controversy about where to site the pool, some of it driven by two special guests at the birthday party Joy and Ernie MacManus. The Gore couple were the first members of the public to swim in the pool when it was opened 10 years ago.

Yesterday they had the honour of cutting the chocolate birthday cake.

Mr Hicks said the multisports complex, which includes the pool, MLT event centre and ice skating rink, was definitely something worth celebrating.

“It’s a sporting hub second to none.

“We can be really proud of what we have got here.”

Since the pool opened 766,000 swimmers and spectators have passed through the doors and its popularity continued to grow, Mr Hicks said.

Aquatic centre manager Kim Peterson paid tribute to the support of her staff and their efforts over the years to increase patronage.

Tracy Hicks, Joy and Ernie McManus

Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks (left) joins Gore couple Joy and Ernie MacManus in cutting the Gore aquatic centre’s birthday cake.